The Online Reflector

The University of Indianapolis women’s soccer team defeated the University of Illinois Springfield’s Prariestars 1-0 on Oct. 7.

The first half remained scoreless after the Greyhounds failed to score any goals off of eight shots, compared to the Prariestars two shots.

At the 46th minute of the match, junior forward Shelby Spinelli scored her fourth goal of the season off an assist from junior forward Nicole Duncan, putting the Greyhounds up 1-0. Spinelli leads the Greyhounds with four goals on the season.

The Greyhounds, who had 12 total shots in the match, out-shot the Prariestars, who only had six.

The Greyhounds had three different  players each take two shots in the victory.

Sophomore goalkeeper Megan Fee took the victory in goal with four saves in the match.

UIndy was defeated at Quincy University on Oct. 5, losing to the Hawks 2-0.

The Hawks’ first goal of the match came from midfielder Ashley Burton at the 35th minute in the first half.

In the second half, Burton found the goal and scored once again to help put the Hawks up 2-0.

The Greyhounds shot seven times, but were unable to score. The Hawks, however, shot at the goal 21 times and eventually won the match.

Fee allowed two goals in the match and had eight saves in goal.

UIndy defeated the University of Southern Indiana at Key Stadium by a score of 3-2 on Sept. 30.

Spinelli and Duncan both gained their third goals of the season against the Screaming Eagles, and freshman midfielder/forward Lindsey Adams finished the win with her second goal as a Greyhound near the 53rd minute.

Although Fee allowed two goals during the match, her four saves helped assure the team’s victory over USI.

UIndy also hosted the Panthers of Kentucky Wesleyan College on Sept. 28, and defeated the Panthers 4-0.

Of the four goals scored by the Greyhounds against the Panthers, the first and third were by Duncan and the second came from Spinelli on an assist by junior midfielder Kaitlyn Braunig. Adams made the last goal of the match on an assist by sophomore midfielder Stacey Klene. This was Adam’s first collegiate goal with the Greyhounds.

Fee kept the score clean with one save in goal.

Spinelli felt the victories over the Screaming Eagles and Panthers were a sign of better things to come for the team.

“We needed it [the wins] because our season wasn’t going too well. So hopefully we can just turn it around from here,” Spinelli said.

Head Women’s Soccer Coach Kiley Cirillo said he is pleased with the season thus far and sees it as a learning experience for the young team.

“You don’t like to peak too soon, but you certainly like to peak a little bit,” he said.

According to Spinelli, the team must work on playing the full 90 minutes.

“We come out really strong, even after halftime,” Spinelli said. “We just have to finish the last few minutes.”

Spinelli attributes the wins to the team’s chemistry.

“I think that the [chemistry] is the biggest strength to have for a team. Everyone loves each other; we’re like a family… It’s been easier to get through the season with them,” Spinelli said.

The Greyhounds will host the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons on Oct. 12 at 5 p.m., and the Maryville University Saints on Oct. 14 at 12 p.m. at Key Stadium.